Molly Ivins, where are you when we need you?

Molly Ivins had a way with words -- she was unbeatable in the tart put-down of politicians. It was from her I first heard the word "bloviate" in reference to a particular congressman known for his windy obfuscations.

Molly also was an expert on George Bush, having known him in high school, as I recall, as well as being a journalist in Texas during his term as governor. She was not his biggest fan.

Bill Keller wrote an op-ed in yesterday's New York Times about the Tea Party's disappointment in what the GOP field seems to be coming down to. He predicts that they will eventually sour on Cain (their darling of the week) and settle on Perry.

He concludes this piece by quoting Molly Ivins, whom he refers to as "the late, wise-cracking Cassandra of Texas politics":

"Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention."

Amen.

No one could ever replace Molly Ivins. She was a national treasure (for us liberals, that is). But, sadly, no one writing about politics or public policy today even comes close.

I once heard her speak at a local ACLU dinner meeting here in Atlanta. It was soon after the Bush administration took office and not long before she began a courageous battle with breast cancer, which finally took her life.

But on this occasion, she was in top form. She took the podium, raised herself up to her full height (she was a tall woman), looked out at the audience for a moment, and then began with this:

"Folks, we are in deep shit."

And that was just the beginning of a rip-roaring tour through her backroom knowledge of politicians, and especially Texas politicians.

Ah, were she only still with us to wither the current crop of GOP wannabes with her wit.

Ralph